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This series of reports analyses the content offered by online video on demand services in the US. These range from advertising-funded video-on-demand (AVoD) services through to authenticated TV Everywhere offerings and subscription video-on-demand (SVoD).

The Roku Channel launched in the UK on 7 April, offering an extensive library of ad-supported TV and movie content. The UK is the first launch outside North America and heralds the beginning of the channel’s international expansion. The company has operated the Roku Channel in the US since 2017 and Canada from 2018.

NBCUniversal (NBCU) revealed the launch date and details of its advertising strategy for Peacock, its upcoming online video streaming service, on 16 January. The investors presentation outlined a number of the advertising features that NBCU, and parent company Comcast, hope will position Peacock in a valuable niche within the increasingly crowded US subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market.

CBS Corporation and Viacom have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger, reuniting two US-based media giants which split in 2006. The merger will reunite the CBS free-to-air broadcasting business, the Showtime pay TV network, basic cable channel brands MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, and the Paramount film and TV studios, as well as burgeoning online brands including CBS All Access and Pluto TV. Both CBS and Viacom are owned by National Amusements Inc.

The continued disruption from global streaming services was clearly apparent at this year’s Mip TV, which took place in Cannes 8-11 April. The challenges presented by online video services, notably Netflix and Amazon, were a theme through a number of the announcements and stories from the programming market.

With the UK due to leave the European Union on 29 March, its position as a hub for international broadcasters targeting the European Union could be disrupted. Research by IHS Markit suggests that all but 339 of the 1,039 TV channels licenced by UK regulator Ofcom will require licences from other countries.

Our annual focus on the TV production sector looks at how companies have consolidated to adjust to a changing marketplace. Traditional models are under pressure, but there are many challenges in today’s highly diverse ecology.

The UK Government has published guidance for the broadcasting and video-on-demand sector in the event that the country leaves the European Union (EU) on 29 March 2019 without an agreement on its future relationship with the other 27 countries. Similar guidance notes have been published for other sectors which will be impacted in a 'no deal' scenario. The government note states this is 'unlikely' to happen.

Since rolling out worldwide in 2016, Amazon and Netflix have stepped up original production, both in the US and key international territories. IHS Markit has anlaysed the streaming platform's original production and assess what it means for the global entertainment business.

IHS Markit Channels and Programming Intelligence has tracked 350 mergers and acquisitions (M&As) involving content producers over the five years from 2013 until the end of 2017. Content producer M&A activity has increased, from 42 deals in 2013 to 102 in 2017. ITV and Fremantle Media were the most active buyers in terms of number of deals in the last five years.

Walt Disney Company has agreed to acquire most of 21st Century Fox’s assets, including the 20th Century Fox film studio, most of its cable networks, a 39% stake in European pay TV business Sky and a 30% stake in Hulu. Disney will pay $52.4 billion in stock (subject to adjustments) with 21st Century Fox shareholders receiving 0.2745 Disney shares for each Fox share. Disney will also assume $13.7 billion of net debt.